Share Your Expertise at Broadband Communities’ 2018 Economic Development Conference

Call for Papers

The seventh event in Broadband Communities' highly successful Economic Development Conference Series will be held in Ontario, CA, October 23-25, 2018. This conference, chaired by noted telecom attorney Jim Baller, will focus on the relationship between high-speed broadband and community economic development, particularly in the Western-most states.

Western region includes the following states:
California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada and Idaho

Attendees include municipal, regional and state officials; economic development professionals; network builders and operators of many kinds; broadband activists; real estate developers; electrical cooperatives and others.

Conference organizers are seeking experts who have participated in or studied projects in the Western Region that leverage high-speed broadband for economic development and who can present their findings, conduct interactive workshops, or participate in panel discussions. Among possible subjects of interest are:

• Using high-speed broadband access to:
• Revive depressed communities
• Enhance education opportunities
• Attract new businesses
• Encourage startup businesses, home-based businesses or telecommuting
• Retain and help existing businesses
• Help businesses attract and retain qualified employees
• Promote tourism
• Encourage workforce skills development
• Attract new residents and/or retain residents
• Improve quality of life for residents, especially those with special needs
• Improve delivery of public services
• How network operators, municipalities, economic development professionals and others can work together to leverage high-speed broadband networks for economic development
• How such collaboration can operate at a regional level
• How employers factor broadband availability and quality into site-selection decisions
• The overall effects of local broadband speed and availability on employment, wages and other relevant economic outcomes.

If you would like to participate in the Ontario conference, please send an email to Nancy McCain of Broadband Communities at nancym@bbcmag.com no later than Wednesday, August 1st with the following information:

• Name
• Affiliation
• Brief description of relevant experience
• Brief description of proposed subject matter.

Please attach or link to any documents that would help conference organizers decide whether your presentation would be relevant to the program.

Thank you for your interest.